Cover Image shot by Style Envie StudiosAll other photos by Raina unless specifically indicated including background images

About ___________________________Page 3Being a Mermaid____________________Page 6Mermaid Faq_______________________Page 7Math Resource _____________________Page 102011 in Review_____________________Page 11Underwater Modelling________________Page 14

Raina is a Canadian mermaid in her mid- 20's located in Halifax. She currently owns two tails. One tail was made by a mermaid company no longer in business and is an orange stretch vinyl tail with sim fins. Raina refers to this as her "practice" tail. Raina's other tail will soon be ready for retirement. It is a realistic latex tail originally created by the mertailor but re-made by Raven of Mebellas due to sizing issues.

Raina performs in the water and on land. She can currently hold her breath for 2 minutes stagnate and is working on going longer. Raina also entertains with a focus on education about the environment and encouraging literacy. Raina believes in nurturing imagination, spreading information, and inspiring children (and adults) to follow their dreams. Raina does birthday parties, charity work, pool

performing, mermaid encounters, professional modelling, festivals, children's events, and more.

Raina is inspired by the many other women who perform as mermaids including the original mermaid Annette Kellerman. Raina is always inspired by the work of the David Suzuki Foundation and local Halifax activist groups. Raina aknowledges the generous finacial support of sponsors who helped her afford her tails new and old.

Special thanks to Alexandria for the Image

Being a mermaid is something I dreamed of since a child like many of the professional mers out there today. I'd sit as a young girl on my grandmother's marble flooring pretending it was the ocean or a river and I was the resident mermaid. When I became an adult and learned through the internet that there were people out there actually making this dream come true I was shell shocked. I spent years researching and putting money aside to get my tail. After some fund-raising I managed to finally purchase a tail but my journey wasn't ready to begin. The tail has

I always reflect on the help I got along the way that made my dream possible. There are so many people who invested time or money and information. There are so many people who still inspire me and inform me. I try to be as informative to other prospective mers as I can. I hope in reading my journal and articles that you'll find some

Background image by Mark Anthony Ramsay Photography

Q. How many types of tails are there?A. Many! Some people make tails out of different types of fabric, usually swim fabric. Some make tails from latex or silicone too.

Q. What's a monofin?A. A monofin is a special dive fin used mainly by free divers. Mermaid tails are generally made with one if they are swimmable. The monofin is shaped like a mermaid fluke and both feet go in the one fin. Swimmers use a dolphin kick to move quickly through the water. It really works your core!

Q. What's the most difficult thing about swimming in a mermaid tail?A. It's tricky to learn to swim with your legs together. Never attempt to swim in your tail alone or with your legs tied together. Professional mermaids always have

Q. Are you a good swimmer?A. I wasn't for a very long time! I always swam with something to float on as a kid. As a teen I taught myself to swim but didn't venture under water much because I always got ear infections. When I started with my mermaid tail it was so amazing, the tail had so much power! I swim very well in my tail now but believe it or not still not so great with my human legs!

Q. Where can I buy a mermaid tail? Who do you

Photo by Style Envie Studios Raina is a big supporter of the arts. This image was taken at Dr. Sketchy Halifax. Dr. Sketchy is a drawing group that meets monthly. 19+

Jelly Fish are one of the main prey of all species of sea turtles. But these creatures known to live up and over 100 years are dying from ingesting plastic bags. In the water plastic bags look like jellyfish. You can help! Make sure all your plastic bags are recycled and replace them with recycled reusable bags!

Photo shot by Raina

MATH RESOURCERaina was a mermaidOr so the story goesWhere she had a long orange tailPeople had feet and toesThat wasn’t the only differenceAs Raina came to seeBetween herself and the humans Why they were as different as could be! But Raina liked to learn and to her it was a pleasureand lately she’d become obsessedwith learning how to measureOh she had rulers and protractorsA big stick and then some tapebut there was just one simple little thingThat Raina couldn’t get as of lateWhen the people built their housesand their pools made out of concreteWhy couldn’t they have measured in FINSInstead of measuring in Feet! Didn’t they know that mermaidsHad beautiful flukes and a finMeasuring in feet made no sensebut she knew where to begin!She started in a placeThat all mermaids really loveAnd measured 3 fins acrossFor her cozy indoor tubNext she headed to the pooland didn’t miss a beat!It was only 30 fins acrossNot 57 feet!Her last trip was to the oceanand she gaped around the beachmeasuring it all in fins?A goal she might not reach…So if you ask her how to measureshe’ll tell you with a grin“Forget about all that tape-simply use your fin!”- Copyright Raina 2011

Watch the video for this poem here

Download and print the math lesson plan here

Photography2011 IN REVIEW2011 Started with a bang when Raina received her tail after a makeover by Raven of Merbellas. Raina was quick to put the tail to use at the MSVU Children's carnival

Raina was featured in her local paper's Arts and Life section, as well as online, and on the cover!

Raina enjoyed participating at World Ocean's Day the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and educating children at the annual RBC Multiculural Festival.

Raina took part in the Mahone Bay Pirate's festival as well as many other related events. She was also invited to speak at Mount Saint Vincent University three times

Raina did in 2011 on this part of her website and in her images on facebook. Happy swimming!

talented Cydney Mermaid

Photo by Mark Anthony Ramsay Photography

There are many talented mers in the community who make tops, jewellery, and mer accessories. Come and join the community forum today to meet some of these mer-artisans and place your orders!

UNDERWATER MODELLING comes with the territory for many professional mer. But looking graceful and natural underwater is not as effortless as many mers would have you convinced. Because we do not wear goggles most mers struggle seeing underwater especially in chlorine. A mer is basically blind and depth of field can be tricky to judge. The tails are excellent for swimming but many tails are also buoyant and it can be a challenge to stay underwater for more than a few seconds if not moving. Many professionals mers opt for heavier tails and work on their own muscle mass to help them sink. A mer does not need to have a long breath hold to model well underwater but it certainly helps to have experience in scuba diving, free diving, and snorkelling. Having assistants will make a big difference as well as working

Jewellery and mer accessories can also do a lot for your photos. Wearing belts with netting, necklaces with fake plants and shells, and hair ornaments will add to the mermaid mystique. Keeping your expression in the mood you want can be tricky as well! It's hard to resist the urge to close your eyes and scrunch up your face underwater.

Photo by Raina Mermaid

Frequent Question Asked by Reporters:"Raina, how do children react when they see you?"

Raina:"They don't always react the same,

Raina is the outer expression of my most inner self.

Follow on FacebookFollow on YoutubeFollow on DeviantARTFollow on Tumblr